Ozempic Side Effects (And How to Manage Them)

Almost 50% of people starting Ozempic experience side effects. Most Ozempic side effects are mild and disappear over time.

Common Ozempic Side Effects

A 2022 clinical trial at the Mayo Clinic Health System, which studies the effectiveness of Ozempic as a weight loss drug, found that almost half of all participants experienced negative effects.

Severity of common side effects

Although most side effects were mild, 11.5% of study participants had sufficiently severe adverse effects, and they had to adjust the dose of the ounce pick and discontinue the medication.

Mild It meant that the person could continue taking Ozempic as normal.

Moderate This meant that the person had to reduce the dose of Ozempic.

strict That meant that person had to stop taking Ozempic.

How long does it take for the common side effects to stop?

Mild gastrointestinal side effects generally go away within days or weeks once the body gets used to the medication. If they last longer than this or are serious, talk to your healthcare provider.

If you stop taking your medication, you may leave the system and continue to experience side effects for weeks.

How to reduce or reduce common side effects

The most common side effect is the gastrointestinal (gastric-related), so it is recommended to avoid foods, medications and effects that can shake the stomach.

• Avoid fatty, fried, very sweet foods
• Eat bland foods like crackers, rice, and toast
• Eat foods containing water such as soups and gelatin
• Eat smaller meals more frequently
• Eat slowly
• Don’t lie down after eating
• Drink cold, unsweetened drinks (such as water) to stay hydrated
• Beware of artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols
• Take antiuric medications (only after talking to your doctor)

If the side effects are serious or persist after a few days, consult your doctor about adjusting your dose.

Note: Following FDA approval of medication, the agency continues to monitor side effects. If you experience any adverse effects from using Ozempic, we recommend reporting it to the FDA through the MedWatch program.

Rare but serious side effects of Ozempic

Ozempic can cause rare but serious side effects.

Thyroid cancer

Ozempic has an FDA warning for thyroid C-cell tumors (thyroid cancer).

Thyroid tumor concerns are based on the results of studies using Ozempic and similar drugs in animal studies. In this study, some rats and mice developed thyroid tumors, some of which were cancer. It is unknown whether Ozempic has this effect on humans.

Regulators are monitoring the annual incidence of medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) in the United States to determine whether people taking Ozempic are more likely to develop the cancer (results 2035-2037).

Tell your healthcare provider if you experience any of the following symptoms of thyroid cancer:

• Lumps and swelling in the neck
• Ho respect
• Difficulty swallowing
• shortness of breath

Do not use Ozempic if you or someone in your family had MTC or if you have multiple endocrine system conditions called endocrine neoplastic syndrome type 2 (male 2).

Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis It is a condition that causes the pancreas to become inflamed, causing severe pain, and affects the pancreas’ ability to secrete insulin.

in Clinical researchseveral people developed pancreatitis while taking Ozempic. However, two separate Large-scale researchpeople taking Ozempic had less frequent pancreatitis than people taking placebo.

Therefore, the scientific consensus is that there is no direct evidence that Ozempic can cause pancreatitis.

It is worth noting that people with type 2 diabetes are at almost three times more risk than pancreatitis, whether they are taking Ozempic or not.

Stop using Ozempic and if you are experiencing pancreatitis symptoms, call your healthcare provider immediately.

• vomiting
• Severe pain in the upper stomach moving to the back
• Your belly is soft to touch
• Rapid Pulse

Gastroparesis

Gastroparesis (also known as delayed gastric content and gastroparesis) is an obstacle that slows or stops food movement from the stomach to the small intestine despite the absence of obstruction.

If food stays in the stomach for a long time, it can lead to bacterial overgrowth as food fermentation.

The American Diabetes Association also points out that food can cling to solid lumps called bezoles, leading to nausea, vomiting, and potentially dangerous and potentially life-threatening obstruction.

This is suspected in some cases that this can lead to gastric failure, as one of the major (and intentional) effects of Ozempic is to slow the rate at which food leaves the stomach and enters the intestines.

One study, led by researchers at a University Hospital in Cleveland, found that people who were prescribed GLP-1 medications for weight loss (branded as Ozenpic and Wegovi), exenatide (Vietta), liraglutide (Victoza), and others who were prescribed for weight loss were significantly more likely to be diagnosed with gastroenterological disease at least six months later.

Stop using Ozempic and if you are experiencing symptoms of stomach deficiency, call your health care provider immediately.

• Nausea and vomiting after eating
• It feels full after eating only a small amount
• Severe bloating after meals
• Upper stomach pain (upper abdominal pain)
• Gradual and unexplained dose reduction
• Loss of appetite
• Convulsions and convulsions in the stomach wall

Kidney damage

Only one of the original sustain tests reported cases of acute renal failure.

More recent Flow clinical trials Involving adults with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease, Ozempic actually reduced the risk of kidney disease-related events by 24%.

In this trial, people taking Ozempic were less likely to experience at least one of the following:

• More than 50% loss of renal function
• Kidney failure
• Dialysis
• Kidney Transplantation
• Death from kidney disease
• Death due to cardiovascular disease

Therefore, it is safe to assume that Ozempic does not increase the risk of kidney damage. In fact, it may be a potential part of the treatment.

Temporary vision changes

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, when starting Ozempic, temporary vision changes such as blurry visions are expected.

Changes in blood sugar levels can affect the shape of your eye lens, resulting in blurry vision.

One of the main benefits of ozempic for people with type 2 diabetes is to lower blood sugar levels, so you may experience blurred vision until your blood sugar levels stabilize at new levels.

The older you get, the more likely you will experience blurry vision when starting medicine. Eye lenses become less flexible as they age, so if blood sugar levels change, it takes longer for your vision to stabilize.

Diabetic retinopathy

Studies examining the relationship between ozenpic (semaglutide) and diabetic retinopathy are inconclusive.

One study found an increased risk of retinopathy complications in patients. Therefore, the Ozempic label contains warnings about the risk of vision changes.

However, later studies have found no association between semaglutide and retinopathy, and some studies have shown that semaglutide can help prevent retinopathy.

The current consensus is that it is unlikely that Ozempic will cause or exacerbate retinopathy, and if so, it is probably related to changes in blood glucose levels, not the drug itself.

A blinding eye disease

One new study suggests an association between ozempic and an increased risk of blind eye disease called non-arterial preischemic optic neuropathy (NAION).

However, senior research author Dr. Joseph Rizzo emphasizes that the study shows a connection rather than proven causality, and that further research is needed.

The current recommendation from experts is that while most people should not worry about this, people with existing vision problems should consult their doctor before taking Ozempic.

Gallbladder problems

Some people taking Ozempic have developed cholecystitis (cholecystitis) or gallstones. It is currently unknown whether this is drug-related.

If you experience symptoms of gallbladder problems, tell your healthcare provider immediately.

• Your upper stomach pain (abdomen)
• heat
• Yellowish brown (yellow) skin and eyes
• Clay-colored stool.

Allergic reactions

Some people (less than 1% of people in clinical trials) had a skin reaction in which the drug was injected. They generally included pain, redness and discomfort on their own or after taking ice or ibuprofen.

In rare cases, ozempics can cause severe allergic reactions. Stop using Ozempic and stop seeking medical assistance immediately if you have symptoms of a serious allergic reaction.

• Swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat
• Breathing and swallowing problems
• Stomach pain, bloating, vomiting, or diarrhea
• Severe rash or itching
• I faint and get dizzy
• Very rapid heartbeat.

Hypoglycemia (Hypoglycemia)

Living with diabetes and using ozenpic with insulin or other diabetic drugs can increase the risk of hypoglycemia.

Symptoms of hypoglycemia vary from person to person, but the following are common symptoms to be aware of:

• A violent hunger
• Chills or sweating
• Shakakkes
• Confusion and clumsiness
• Haze
• Unclear speech

You should always have food that can quickly raise your blood sugar levels in case you need to treat hypoglycemia. A good option is sugar candies like juice, glucose tabs or jelly beans.

It is also a great idea to make nasal glucagon (baqsimi) available to treat very severe hypoglycemia that doesn’t function quickly enough.

If you have severe hypoglycemia and are afraid of fainting, call your 911 or your local emergency number.

Mental health issues and suicidal thoughts

There were reports of people who have suicidal thoughts after taking GLP-1 receptor agonists (drug classes including Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and others), and in 2023 the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said it was “assessing the need for regulatory measures.”

However, a 2024 study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) did not have a connection between semaglutide and the idea of ​​suicide.

In fact, research Found “Semaglutide is associated with a 49% to 73% lower risk of first- or relapsing suicidal ideation compared to other drugs to control obesity and type 2 diabetes.”

Weight loss is both a goal and a side effect

In the Ozempic clinical trial, participants lost an average of approximately 15% of their body weight.

This is an intended effect, but it may not be good for you if you don’t need to lose weight.

It is also important to note that not all the weight lost from taking Ozempic is fat. Research disagrees about how much muscle mass (and bone density) is lost, but it is certain that at least some muscle loss will occur.

It is highly recommended that resistance training be included in your treatment and exercise plans to avoid muscle loss.

Get “Ozenpic Face” after rapid weight loss

Whether it is medical or due to other factors, rapid and significant weight loss can lead to changes in physical appearance.

One of these is a change in the contours of the face, or colloquially known as the “ozenpic face.”

• The dent in the face
• It has sunk eyes, hanging around the jaw and neck.
• Changes in lips, cheeks, and chin size

The same can happen to other parts of your body when you lose weight quickly.

This is called “Ozempic Face,” but is caused by rapid weight loss, not by Ozempic.

It is important to consult with your healthcare team if you experience changes in physical appearance while taking Ozempic. They may recommend lowering your ozempic dose and slowing down the pace of weight loss.

Ozempic, pregnancy, contraception

The safety of ozempics during pregnancy or breastfeeding has not been thoroughly studied, but animal studies suggest that if ozempics are used during pregnancy, there may be some risk to the fetus. Ozempic can also be present in breast milk.

Therefore, it is recommended that you stop using Ozempic at least two months before becoming pregnant and not start again until you stop breastfeeding.

Ozempic can affect the effectiveness of contraceptives because it affects the speed at which food and medicine are absorbed into the stomach (since vomiting is a common side effect).

There are no published studies or studies on semaglutide and contraception, but there are anecdotal stories of people getting pregnant while taking ozenpic using contraceptives.

While taking Ozempic, you may consider consulting with your doctor about using other forms of birth control.

When to call your doctor or go to the hospital

If you have one, you should see a doctor immediately.

• Severe vomiting and diarrhea
• Severe stomach pain and tenderness
• Can’t let gas pass or move the intestines
• Yellow (yellow skin color)
• Allergic reactions at the injection site

In general, it is recommended to tell your doctor that you are taking Ozempic or another GLP-1 medication. These drugs are new and knowledge about risks and side effects is still improving.

Doctors can better diagnose health issues and advise other medications and treatment options if they know they are taking Ozempic.

FAQ

Does Ozempic cause long-term side effects?

There are no known long-term side effects other than the Ozempic mentioned above, but the long-term safety profile is not fully understood as this drug has not been widely available for more than a few years.

Can Ozempic cause hair loss?

Hair loss was not reported as a side effect in either Ozempic or Wegoby clinical trials.

However, rapid weight loss can lead to hair loss, and patients with diabetes and hyperglycemia generally have a higher risk of hair loss.

How does Ozempic affect the heart?

A 2023 clinical trial showed that semaglutide can reduce the risk of major cardiac and vascular events, including heart attacks, strokes, or cardiovascular death by up to 20%.

Ozempic has no known harmful effects on the heart or blood vessels, reducing the risk of a heart attack in the future and could become a common medication for the treatment of heart disease.

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